A Dance to Death

Was it Casual?

"Quirks bring the society down. They are everything bad with this world," Overhaul explained for the hundredth time.
I rolled my eyes.
Why can't he just shut up? He realises he has a quirk too, right?

My body was on the floor, weak, frail, and tired.
"You'll never be a hero if you can't handle a beating from your mother!" My mother screamed.
"I'm a kid. I can't endure the type of training adults can," I whispered.
"I'm going easy on you, so be grateful!"
I attempted to get up, but my attempt was useless, and I fell face first on the cold, poorly matted floor.
"You're so dramatic, Peyusha. Get up, get changed, and go see Touya. I've had enough of you."
After twelve minutes on the floor, I was able to get up. I walked to my bedroom, getting out of my sweaty, blood stained clothes, and into fresh, new ones.
I entered Touya's home, taking my shoes before going further into the home. Touya rushed over to me, a smile on his face. Then his smile dropped.
"Ushy, what happened to your face?"
"Oh! Uhh... Nothing. Just a little hard training with mom today."
"Your nose is bleeding, you are badly injured, and there are bruises all over you. She did this from training."
"Yeah. The nose is my fault though. I fell on the floor face first. I don't think it's broken."
"Well that's good. Let's get you patched up, though. You look like hell."
A sting hit my body.
"Ow!" I yelled.
"Sorry, I'm trying to disinfect it the best I can," Touya replied.
A sigh escaped my lips.
"Sorry that you have to deal with me like this."
"Don't apologize. You didn't do this to yourself."
"You're right, but I still should have taken care of it before I got here."
"Let's be honest here, I would have still made sure every injury was taken care of fully."
"Why?"
"Because you and Natsu have been the only people who care."

A quick pain came from my hip.
"Ow!" I exclaimed.
"Maybe don't zone out when I'm talking to you!" Toga yelled back.
I ruffled her hair.
"You don't need to poke so hard."
"Blah blah blah! It wasn't even that bad."
I rolled my eyes.
The sound of our shoes echoed through the hallway of the Shie Hassaikai base.
"I don't like this place," I whispered.
Toga looked over at me.
"Why? You seem to be having fun with the Darling girl."
"Because I know her, and she isn't safe here."
"Fair point, but why don't you like this place?"
"There's just a feeling about it. It makes me uneasy. It makes me think there's more to everyone here, but in the creepy way."
"Now that you're really talking about it, I see where you're coming from."
Besides the fact it was like a mental hospital, the aura was always off. It felt as if I was being swallowed by the tortured souls of the dead.

My black boots made a soft clicking noise as I walked through the league's base. No one was in the living room.
That checks out. It's the middle of the night. They're probably asleep.
I opened mine and Dabi's shared room, a soft creek coming from the door. He shot up from the bed. He stared at me as I closed the door.
"Pey? I thought you were supposed to be with Overhaul."
"I am supposed to be there, but I decided I wanted to see you."
I smiled at him. It took him a moment, but he smiled back at me.
"Get over here."
I jumped onto the bed, laying next to him. He tucked my black hair back, showing off the dyed stripes of blue and purple in my hair.
"Did you dye your hair recently?"
"Yeah."
"I like it."
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, Pey."
I pulled him closer to me, placing a kiss on his lips.

Sneaking in and out of places was always my strong suit. Ever since I was a kid, ever since I got this quirk, sneaking around was always so easy. Being a shadow meant you were alone, unseen, unheard. It was peaceful for a while, until everyone who ever saw you slowly went away.

"Touya!" I called out, fire covering the entire forest. I saw Endeavor rush into the fire, the firemen following him. I felt my gut sinking. It felt as if my gut was ripped out.
Breathe, Peyusha! Breathe! I thought to myself, gasping for breath.
How can I breathe if I can't feel my lungs? Am I dreaming? Am I dying? This has to be a dream. This isn't real. Touya is safe. Right?
My legs shook as I tried to walk to the forest. My knees gave out, and I fell to the concrete street. I placed a hand on my chest.
Slow your breathing down, Peyusha! You're going to hyperventilate.
I felt someone rush over to me, holding me close to them.
"Kimiko?"
"Hey, Pey. It'll be okay. I need you to take a deep breath."
"Touya..."
"Don't worry about him right now, okay? He's being found."
I nodded. Taking a deep breath, holding it, then breathing out.
"Good job, Pey," Kimiko reassured me, holding my shaking hands in hers, "I have you, okay? Don't think about the worst. Don't think about anything. Just look at me."
I nodded.
"Okay."
She slightly smiled.

"Pey, you need to get going before Crusty sees you," Dabi whispered.
"Crap, what time is it?"
"Way past the time we agreed you needed to be gone by."
"Alright. See you later."
"See you."
I gave him a small kiss before taking a deep breath, and activating my quirk. A tingling feeling spread through my legs, then to my torso, then to my arms, and up to my head. My body shifted into a shadow. I raced through the base, seeing everyone as if I was an unseen mouse. Everyone looked a little darker when I was a shadow. Pandora was reading a book, Shigaraki was sitting next to her, playing his video game, and Compress was playing cards with Shuichi. They seemed peaceful for the first time in forever. No one was yelling, trauma dumping, and no one was being annoying.
Is it always this peaceful when I'm gone? I questioned myself.

I opened up the journal that Darling gave to me. I picked up the pencil and drew them peacefully sitting around each other. So calm. So unbothered.
Maybe it would be more peaceful if I wasn't there...
Then my hand flipped to a fresh page of paper. I just drew who I was thinking about. The woman who has been here for me since day one.
Kimiko, was it casual love, or was it more? Would I be happier with you? I'm not sure who I am anymore. I can't even decide what I want. I'm sorry... I hope you're happy with your bird man.